Wayne David


Wayne David MP is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Caerphilly since 2001. He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Wales Office from 2008 to 2010. He was appointed Shadow Europe Minister in 2010, Shadow Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform in 2011 and as Ed Miliband's Parliamentary Private Secretary in October 2013.

Early life and education

David was born in Bridgend, the son of a teacher and grandson of a coal miner. He grew up in the local village of Cefn Cribwr and later attended Cynffig Comprehensive School before attending University College, Cardiff, where he was awarded a BA in History and Welsh History in 1979. After studying Economic History at University College, Swansea, he returned to Cardiff and qualified as a teacher in 1983 with a PGCE from University College Cardiff. He was awarded the Charles Morgan Prize for Welsh history in 1979.

Professional career

David taught history at the Brynteg Comprehensive School, Bridgend from 1983 to 1985, when he left to work for the Workers' Educational Association.
He became the chairman of War on Want Cymru in 1987, stepping aside in 1989.

Political career

David was an elected representative on the Welsh Executive of the Labour Party from 1981 to 1982 and from 1986 to 1989. He was elected as a councillor to the Cefn Cribwr Community Council in 1985, and was its chairman in 1986–7, before standing down in 1990. He was a member of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee for four years from 1994.

European Parliament

David was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for South Wales Central in 1989 and served in Europe until 1999. He was the treasurer of the European Parliamentary Labour Party from 1989 to 1991, becoming its leader in 1994 until he left European politics.
He stood down to contest the Rhondda in the first National Assembly for Wales elections in 1999. David lost to the Plaid Cymru candidate by over 2,000 votes.

UK Parliament

David was elected to the Westminster Parliament at the 2001 general election for Labour's safe seat of Caerphilly, following the departure of the former Secretary of State for Wales Ron Davies. He made his maiden speech on 7 June 2001, in which he called for a new hospital in his constituency.
David has been a member of the European Scutiny, Standards and Privileges and Welsh Affairs Select Committees.
In 2005 he was appointed as the Team Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and then subsequently to the then Minister of State, Adam Ingram. He resigned from this position on 6 September 2006, due to the refusal by Tony Blair to name a date for stepping down as Prime Minister, along with a number of others.
When Gordon Brown succeeded Blair as Prime Minister, Wayne David was promoted to the Government as an Assistant Government Whip to the Wales Office and Department for Work and Pensions. Following Gordon Brown's government reshuffle in October 2008, David was moved to be a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Wales Office. He held this position until Labour left office in May 2010.
With Labour in Opposition, he was Shadow Wales Office Minister between May and October 2010 when he was appointed as Shadow Europe Minister, following Ed Miliband's victory in the Labour leadership election. Wayne David was Shadow Europe Minister until he became Shadow Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform in October 2011. He then became PPS to Ed Miliband.
He supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour Party leadership election.

Personal life

He was married to Catherine Thomas from 1991 to 2007 and married Jayne Edwards in 2016.
He has been a member of the United Nations Association's Cardiff branch since 1989.

Publications